Notes for: Eliza MCFADDIN

At a very early age Eliza fell in love with a young Acadian Frenchman whoworked for her father. They eloped to Louisiana where they were marriedand remained until the spring of 1838. Apparently being forgiven by herfather, the couple crossed the Sabine River into the Republic of Texas onMay 15th and settled on a farm just north of Beaumont.

Also living in the household in 1850 was Maguire's aged father, JeanBaptiste ("Jonas") Chaison, age 105. He was a native of Nova Scotia whohad come to America to fight with the rebellious colonists in theAmerican Revolution.

Maguire and Eliza (McFaddin) Chaison had seven children, five of whomlived to maturity. Their accomplishments, and those of their children,were especially noteworthy. As biographer Martin writes in her book, "The Chaisons can never be forgotten in Beaumont. To say nothing of thefamous Jean Baptiste (Jonas), there are three Chaison Additions in thecity, three streets named for family members, . . . and [daughter-in-law]Clara Chaison was one of the founders of Beaumont's WestminsterPresbyterian Church.

Source:
1. More Early Southeast Texas Families, by Madeleine Martin, NortexPress, Quanah, Texas, 1978. pp. 29-31.

2. Charlsie E. Berly, "French American Patriot of the AmericanRevolution, Jean Baptiste Chaison (Chiasson)," The Texas Gulf CoastGenealogical and Biographical Record (November, 1975, No. 1 and November1976, No.1), Vol. XL, pp. 11-29 and Vol. XII, pp. 51-103.
[email David McFadden 21 July 2000]